Globe Telecom, through its Globe Labs subsidiary, has partnered with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to implement TanodCOVID, a new platform for COVID-19-related reporting and contact tracing.
TanodCOVID is an SMS-based service that aims to improve the country’s capacity to trace suspected COVID-19 cases. This is a new program funded by DOST-PCHRD, and developed by Ateneo Center for Computing Competency and Research (ACCCRe) of Ateneo de Manila University, in collaboration with the University of the Philippines Manila – National Telehealth Center (UP-NTHC) and the DOH-Epidemiology Bureau.
The services are linked to the Feasibility Analysis of Syndromic Surveillance using Spatio-Temporal Epidemiological Modeler (FASSSTER) – a web-based disease modeling and surveillance platform for COVID19, which aims to gather and present data on the country’s battle against COVID-19.
Local residents experiencing symptoms such as cough, fever, breathing difficulties, and/or diarrhea, are encouraged to inform health officials of their condition by texting their LGU’s verified number. Reports sent through the platform are handled immediately with locals receiving calls from health officials to verify the report, request for additional information, and provide guidelines on the next steps to receive treatment. Verified reports from TanodCOVID may be used to detect the clustering of suspected cases that can be indicative of possible outbreak in an area.
Apart from enabling locals to report cases, TanodCOVID also provides LGUs access to data on reported symptoms to better serve their communities – as well as to isolate cases and prevent further spread.
“Through TanodCOVID, we aim to add more value to our services by enabling our customers and their communities to safeguard their health and safety especially during present circumstances, where access to immediate testing and healthcare proves to be more difficult,” said Albert de Larrazabal, Chief Commercial Officer at Globe.
